By Steve Kravitz, PT, DPT, CST
If you’ve experienced a migraine, then there’s no doubt you’ve felt the severity of it. The overwhelming symptoms that may occur with migraines include: nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sounds, smells, and lights can really affect our ability to work or engage in any type of daily activity. Many of us can agree that it can significantly diminishes our overall quality of life.
Did you know that more than 36 million men, women, and children are impacted by migraines every single day (American Migraine Association)?
This disabling condition is difficult to treat, but understanding more about migraines can help you confront it without the need for medication.
What’s Triggering my Migraines?
Although scientists have yet to identify a cause, the best way to steer clear of migraines is to refrain from what started it in the first place. I’ve learned over time that each patient has different migraine triggers, and it’s not uncommon for patients to have multiple triggers. Genetic components may contribute to migraines, but certain lifestyle choices can significantly influence the frequency and severity of an attack.
The most common triggers are:
- foods you may have an allergy to or have a sensitivity
- skipping meals or not drinking enough water
- sensory stimulation overload
- stress
- weather changes
- foods that are high in sodium or aged
It’s important to note that highly processed foods can also play a role in triggering your migraine. Patients who are prone to being easily triggered should avoid skipping meals or fasting all together. Bright lights, strong smells, and extremely loud noises can set off a migraine, as well as constant mental and physical stress. There are some migraines that can be of hormonal or chemical imbalances in the body as well. Therefore, it’s important to see a medical doctor to try to understand what may be the possible source of your migraine.
CranioSacral Therapy Can Help Your Body Function More Efficiently and Improve Health
Aside from steering clear of what’s responsible for your migraine, there are natural, gentle, and non-invasive type of therapies that have been proven to help treat migraines. It’s natural for the human body to undergo stress and strain throughout life. This helps explain why tissues in our body may tighten, contract, and create restriction in response to daily stressors. Our CranioSacral system is what surrounds and protects both our brain and spinal cord. The significant role our central nervous system plays in the proper functioning and the overall state of our health is vital. When there are restrictions within this system, it can be responsible for inhibiting optimum health, impeding proper motion, and causing dysfunction or disease in your body.
How to Confront your Migraine Head On
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that encourages fluid movement and drainage to help your body function more efficiently. During this type of treatment, my hands can detect and release the areas of body where there is a lack of motion that may be disrupting the CranioSacral system. When I correct these restrictions, your body is then able to access your natural self-corrective mechanisms around your brain and spinal cord. Releasing these restrictions within the tissue may alleviate a wide variety of conditions causing your headache or migraine. When I use this type of manual therapy, I focus on releasing the deep tensions to restore the natural motion of tissue throughout your body so your physical, mental, and emotional well-being improves. Essentially, this allows patients a better opportunity to live a more active, healthy and happy life.
Craniosacral Therapy is just one part of a unique, personalized approach to Physical Therapy which has been developed over twenty years by Dr. Steve Kravitz of Steve Kravitz Physical Therapy. To learn more about how Craniosacral Therapy can help you with your headache or migraine, contact us or read more on our blog.
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